People everywhere, at all ages, can be infected with meningitis transmitted through respiratory secretions or drops in close human contact. Low and middle -income countries are worst affected.

The so -called “meningitis belt” in Africa south of the Sahara sees most cases and outbreaks. It extends from Senegal and Gambia west of the continent all the way to Ethiopia in the east.

The most dangerous form of the disease, bacterial meningitis, can kill within only 24 hours – and one in six people die once infected.

“Every family who has had a meningitis case knows what fear this disease can bring,” Dr. Marie-Pierre Preziosi, as the team leads for meningitis and F&U-Plan.

Lifetime sentence

About 20 percent of people who contract bacterial meningitis develop long -term complications, including disabilities with a devastating, lifelong influence that said in a statement.

Extra attention should be directed to vaccination coverage to avoid critical problems, including impairment of brain function, warned Dr. Tarun Dua, who unit leads for brain health and spoke with journalists in the launch of the new guidelines.

Class division

Hearing loss is only a side effect of the disease; It is often particularly harmful to children whose education suffers. But if it can be quickly detected according to the new WHO guidelines “You can provide treatment and the child may be well included” in school and in the community “, Dr. Dua explained.

A cluster of three or four cases among school children can be treated with antibiotics, but only if vaccination levels are high, according to Dr. Lorenzo Pezzoli, which Team leads to meningitis and epidemic bacterial diseases.

Worth a shot

However, many countries lack the means to provide vaccine protection to ensure collective immunity against many diseases, not just meningitis. In addition, they also lack the advanced technology required to diagnose the disease in the first place, which is not as easy as a Covid-19-stick test.

“You have to insert the needle into the spine and test the fluid coming out,” Dr. Pezzoli and highlights the difficulties of many low -income countries detained by poor health facilities.

In an increasing number of countries affected by emergencies in crisis or conflict, people cannot get the treatment they need as soon as they should, which creates “fertile reasons for meningitis epidemics,” Dr. Pezzoli, who added that his two -year -old son has had his jab for the disease.

The UN Health Agency’s guidelines form part of its efforts to eradicate meningitis by 2030. It works with partners, including the Menfrinet network to support countries collecting and analyzing high -quality monitoring. This enables monitoring the effect of control strategies, including meningitis A vaccine.

Prevention is “the most important piece of the puzzle,” insisted Dr. Pezzoli.